Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The COVID19 Pandemic has not only claimed 4013 lives in Goa but has also put 43 per cent lives, which comes to roughly around 6.5 lakh population in Goa.
Sounds Strange but true.
If the State government’s clarification on the Mhadei diversion by Karnataka is to be believed, COVID-19 has been the main culprit for Goa being on the verge of losing “Mai” Mhadei.
Water Resources Minister Subash Shirodkar says that teh State Government’s case in Supreme Court has been delayed for three years due to the pandemic.
“A contempt Petition was filed in the Supreme Court by the State. The matter was heard by Supreme Court, and the Hon’ble court directed a joint inspection of the Kalasa diversion site by the committee comprising Superintending Engineers of all three States, and they were directed to file Joint Inspection Report,” said Shirodkar.
Accordingly, he added, the inspection was carried out, and reports were submitted by each State separately, as a joint inspection report was not possible due to a lack of consensus.
“The Supreme Court had fixed to hear the matter continuously for three consecutive days, exclusively for the Mahadayi matter in July 2020. However, due to the Covid pandemic, the main matter could not be heard,” he says.
Thereafter, he says, during the Pandemic period, matters in Supreme Court were heard by Video Conferencing.
“As the documentation involved in our matter is voluminous, all three party states requested the Supreme Court for a physical hearing in the matter,” he says.
Shirodkar added, “The matter has yet to come up for hearing. The State of Goa has never asked for time from the Supreme Court”.
What has Govt Done So far after DPR Approval
Asked what steps the State has taken since Karnataka’s DPR was approved recently, he gave a full list of steps taken.
“Goa has filed two Contempt Petitions, 2113/2018 and 724/2020, to bring to the notice of the Hon. Supreme Court the illegal diversions carried out by Karnataka in violation of The Mahadayi Tribunal and Supreme Court Orders. Besides, Goa is endeavouring to forestall the diversions through the following judicial and administrative actions:
1. A special Cabinet meeting was called by Hon CM on 02.1.2023 to discuss and decide on a future course of action, wherein it was resolved by the Cabinet:
i. That the State of Goa vehemently objects to any out-of-basin water diversion from the Mahadayi river basin.
ii. To demand the Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Jal Shakti to immediately withdraw the Technical Appraisal acceptance granted to the DPR of Kalasa Nallah diversion scheme (Lift Scheme)
and Bhandura nala diversion scheme (Lift Scheme)
iii. The State shall take action through the Chief Wildlife Warden under Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to stop any diversion/stoppage/reduction of water flowing into the Madei Wild Life Sanctuary.
iv. To move the Jal Shakti Ministry to constitute the Mahadayi Water Management Authority (MWMA) within eight days.
v. Chief Minister to lead a delegation of Group of Ministers, Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly to meet the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Union Minister for Jal Shakti on the Mahadayi issue.
2. All party meeting was called by the Chief Minister to brief and discuss the matter.
3. State of Goa has requested a copy of the Approved DPRs and approval of CWC approving the Revised DPR, which is still not shared by CWC.
4. Showcase Notice is issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Madei to the Managing Director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd., project proposer of Kalasa and Bhandura projects under sec 29 of the wildlife protection Act for alleged diversion of water flowing into the Madei wild life sanctuary.
5. All party delegation was led by Hon CM on 11-Jan-2023 to impress upon the Home minister and Jal Shakti Minister to address Goa’s Apprehensions regarding the recent approval of Karnataka’s Kalasa and Bhandura DPRs by the Central Government and requested to keep the same in abeyance.
6. An Interlocutory Application No. 10024 of 2023 in SLP (C) 19312 of 2019 is filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court praying to:
a. Issue appropriate directions restraining Karnataka from diverting water from the Mhadei river basin, including form the Kalasa and Bhandura rivulets, without first obtaining the requisite approval under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
b. Issue appropriate directions granting a stay to the construction activities ongoing at the Kalasa-Bhandura project site.
c. Issue appropriate directions directing Karnataka to disclose to the applicant State of Goa a copy of the Revised DPR as approved by the CWC and the Order of the CWC approving the Revised DPRs.
d. Issue appropriate directions granting ad-interim reliefs in terms of prayer above.”
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